t before the landing was effected; and on making the
assault they were surprised by an easy victory. The fort was abandoned.
The enemy had probably been apprised of the attack. A detachment
from the ships had landed some hours before--had dismantled the fort,
dismounted the cannon, and withdrawn the garrison; retreating in safety
to the ships. A gunner and three men only, fell into the hands of
the provincials. The very day that this event occurred, Lord William
Campbell, the Governor, fled to the Tamar sloop of war. His flight
was no doubt hastened by a proceeding so decisive. That evening he
dispatched his secretary to Fort Johnson, which he was not permitted
to enter. He was met at the water-side by Capt. Pinckney, of whom he
demanded, in the name of the Governor, by what authority he had taken
and held possession of the fortress. The answer to this demand brought
up the vessels of war, which, on the seventeenth of September, presented
themselves within point blank shot of the fort. Up to this time, but
three of the dismantled cannon had been remounted and put in order
for action. With these, the provincials prepared for battle, relying,
however, less upon their cannon than upon their ability to oppose the
landing of any body of men. But the demonstration of the squadron was
without fruits. They hauled off without a shot, and resumed their former
less offensive position.

Here, however, the popular leaders were not disposed to suffer them to
remain. Still they hesitated at coming to blows. They adopted a middle
course, which, in such cases, is generally the worst. They ordered that
the ships should not be victualled or supplied with water from the city,
except from day to day. This produced a threat from Captain Thornborough
that, unless supplied as before, he should prevent the ingress, or
departure, of any vessel from the harbor. A menace of this kind, to have
been properly met, should have been answered from the eighteen pounders
of Fort Johnson. And, but for the reluctance of several highly esteemed
patriots, such would have been the mode of answer. This temporizing
policy continued to prevail until the 9th November, 1775, when the
Provincial Congress resolved, "by every military operation, to oppose
the passage of any British Armament." Such were the orders issued to the
officer commanding at Fort Johnson. This fort had now been in possession
of the popular party for nearly two months. It was in some degree
prep